The two leaders are in Hokkaido in northern Japan to attend the outreach session of the Group of Eight (G8) summit slated for Wednesday.

As the biggest developing countries in the eastern and western hemispheres, China and Brazil's strengthening of mutual strategic dialogue and cooperation is not only in the interest of the two peoples, but also conducive to consolidating South-South Cooperation, said President Hu.

He hailed the development and progress of the China-Brazil strategic partnership since its establishment 15 years ago, and said China would like to deepen relations with Brazil by intensifying high-level communications, expanding cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit, reinforcing multilateral dialogue through international mechanism and broadening strategic cooperation.

China is willing to make joint efforts with Brazil to optimize bilateral trade structure, enlarge mutual investments and enhance cooperation in fields such as infrastructure, energy and resources, as well as agriculture, the Chinese leader said.

Hu also proposed that the two countries actively discuss high-tech cooperation, such as pushing forward the earth resources satellite project, and intensify communications and cooperation on education, culture and tourism.

On major international issues such as climate change, environmental protection and the ongoing food crisis, Hu called for concerted efforts from the two nations to protect the rights of developing countries.

Hu also thanked Brazil for helping China's disaster relief efforts following the deadly earthquake in southwestern China's Sichuan province on May 12.

For his part, President Lula said he agreed with Hu's evaluation of the bilateral relations and supported his proposal to strengthen coordination on major international issues. He also reiterated Brazil's adherence to the one-China Policy.

Lula confirmed his scheduled attendance at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics and wished the Games a great success.

SAPPORO, Japan, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Leaders from China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico gathered in Sapporo, capital of Hokkaido, northern Japan, Tuesday to exchange views on the issues of common concern.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and leaders of the other four developing countries were meeting on the eve of an outreach session of the Group of Eight (G8) summit, slated for Wednesday in the northern Japanese resort of Toyako. Full story

BEIJING, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao left here Monday afternoon for Japan to attend the Outreach Session of the Group of Eight (G8) Summit, at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.

Hu's entourage included Ling Jihua, member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of General Office of CPC Central Committee, Wang Huning, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and director of Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee, State Councilor Dai Bingguo, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission Zhang Ping, Minister of Agriculture Sun Zhengcai, Minister of Commerce Chen Deming, Director of the President's Office Chen Shiju and Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jieyi. Full story

TOYAKO, Japan, July 6 (Xinhua) -- When the leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized nations gather in Hokkaido, Japan, this week for their annual summit, they face the challenge of showing greater resolve to fight global warming, remedying the world economy and easing tensions in the world's hot spots.

The host country Japan has put talks on climate change high on the agenda of the meeting in the northern resort of Toyako, building on the outcome of last year's summit in Germany, where leaders agreed to seriously consider a target of halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Full story

TOYAKO, Japan, July 7 (Xinhua) -- The three-day summit of the Group of Eight (G8) kicked off on Monday with the first session bringing together leaders of the industrialized nations and their counterparts from seven African countries.

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who is playing host for the G8 annual gathering, greeted other G8 leaders and the African leaders at the start of a working lunch at the hilltop Windsor Hotel in Toyako, a resort town on the northern island of Hokkaido. Full story